Loading machine



Jan. '23, 1923. 1,442,852

' J. Cv BRACKETT' LOADING MACHINE. FILED FEB. 9, 1922 8 SHEETS'SHEET 2 Jan. 23, 1923. 1,442,852

J. C. BRACKETT LOADING MACHINE. FILED FEB 9, I922 8 SHEETS'SHEET 3 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4 J. C. BRACKETT. LOADING MACHINE. Fmzo FEB- 9. 1922 1 Jan. 23, 1923.

INVENTOR I awoke?!" i-us ATTORN Y Jan. 23; 1923.

. L "MN F H CC AA RM 6 8 SHEETS SHEET 5 FILED FEB. 9. 1922.

$9 MIQQ v x N mm M \U 91 145440 14311 INV ENTOR Hi5 ATTOR Y Jan. 23, 1923. 1,442,852

J. c. BRACKETT.

LOADlNG MACHlNE. FILED FEB '9, 1922. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6 INVENTOR HIS ATTOR Y Jan. 23, 1923.

J. C. BRACKETT. LOADING MACHINE. FILED FEB. 9, 1922.

8 SHEETSSHEET 7 INVENTOR (Io/Ln aflmckeff HIS ATTO NEY Jan. 23, 1923.

J C BRACKETT LOADENG MAcHmE 8 SHEETS'SHEET 8 FILED FEB 59, 192E INVENTOR HIS ATTOR Y Patented Jan. 23, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN C. BRACKETT, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO INGERSOLL-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LOADING MACHINE.

Application filed February 9, 1922. Serial No. 535,349.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. BRACKETT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certaln Loadin Machine, of which the following is a specification. accompanied by drawings.

This invention relates to shoveling and loading machines, but more particularly to the type of machine disclosed in the co-pending application of Bruce A. Middlemiss, Serial No. 143.116, filed January 18, 1917, in which a scoop or shovel is actuated through a cycle of digging and discharging movements comprising a forward digging and fillin movement, a lifting and swinging movement back over the machine to discharge the material and a return movement to the front of the machine for the beginning of the next cycle. The present invention is in some respects an improvement upon the machine disclosed in the said copending application with added features although the principles of operation remain substantially the same.

()ne object of the present invention is to enable the substantially horizontal lineal thrust or crowding movement of the digging mechanism to be converted into an upward slicing stroke for the scoop which better fills the scoop. and loosens the material in the pile in readiness for the next digging and filling stroke.

(lthcr objects are to enable both the advancing and the horizontal swinging movements of the machine to be controlled from our lnanuallv operated device. to secure a sclf locking or non-reversible advancing mechanism. which will automatically lock the machine against skidding away from the pile. and providisimple and compact mechanism for swinging or turning the frame of the machinifrom side to side on its truck or carriagc.

l' urtber objects of the invention will hereinafter appear. and the invention is shown in one of its preferred forms in the accompanving drawiiigs. in which.

Figure l is a sidc elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan vicw of thc machine.

Figure 3 is a rcar cud elevation of the ma chine.

Figure 4 is a detail transverse sectional elevation taken through the advancing and swinging motors on the line 4-1 of Figure l, lookng in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the machine on the line 5 5 of Figure looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional elevation taken through the cylinder and scoop, showing the scoop at the end of its advancing or crowded movement,

Figure 7 is asimilar view showing the scoop in the position it assumes after the initial withdrawal and lifting movement,

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the digging mechanism and scoop in discharged position,

Figure 9 is a.horizontal sectional plan view taken through the main cylinder on the line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, with some of the parts in a different position,

Figure 11 is a detail side elevation partly in longitudinal section, showing the traction chain, and

Figure 12 is a detail top plan view of the truck with parts of the frame of the machine broken away showing the operation of the cable swinging the frame from side to side on the truck.

Referring to the drawings, a main frame A is mounted on the truck B having wheels traveling on the rails I). A swinging unit including the shovel or scoop E and power mechanism. preferably in the form of a fluid pressure cylinder F, is pivotally mount cd for swinging movement on the frame A. as by means of the cylinder trunnions G in the trunnion caps H. The cvlinder is pro vided with a reciprocating piston .l having a piston rod K. to the outer end of which a cross bead L is connected in any suitable manner. A transverse scoop shaft 0 ere tends through the cross head. and the upper or back portion of the scoop E is pivotally mounted on the shaft 0. as by means of the eyes P forming hinges.

Side arms Q are pivoted at each side of the main frame A on a transverse shaft R. and side arm links S are pivotallv connected I05 to the side arms Q as by means of the pins T at one end. the other ends of tbc side arm links R being formed with the slots l enwith hollowed portions Y with which the bearing pieces W are adapted to cooperate in certain positions of the actuating mechanism.

Tilting levers Z are pivoted to the lower portion of the cross head I; on the transverse shaft (1 and the lower ends of these tilting levers are connected to the back of the scoop by the scoop links I). The opposite ends of the tilting levers Z are respec tively pivotally connected by means of the pins 0 to pairs of tilting lever links (I. which in turn are pivoted to brackets c on the cylinder head as by means of the pivot pins g.

A suitable recoil mechanism is mounted on the cylinder and is in this instance indicated as a housing It containing a spring 7.: and connected to a rearward portion of the cylinder by the link j. and pivot pin la. A plunger 0 within the cylinder is provided with a plunger rod 2 pivotally connected to a forward portion of the cylinder. A dashpot in the form of a cylinder r is pivoted to i the main frame as by means of the pin 1'.

and the piston rod 8 is pivotally connected by the pin a to the. member t of which the pivot pin is forms a part, so that in the swinging movement of the cylinder, the dash-pot may have a. pivotal movement. The function of the recoil check is not only to check and cushion the rearward movement of the swinging mechanism by striking on the stop u, but to impart an initial for- I ward movement to the cylinder and its connected parts. so that the cylinder is carried forwardly past the vertical, due to the action of the spring k in the recoil check, as will be apparent. The function of the dashpot q-and its pa rtfs. is to check the downward swing of the swinging mechanism, which returns to digging position by gravity.

In the operation of the digging mechanism, so far described. let it be assumed that the scoop is in initial digging position. as sho n in Figure 5. with the piston J retra ted in the cylinder F. Suitable means, tobe described. are provided for distributing motive fluid to the cylinder through the trunnions and let it be assumed, that motive fluid is supplied behind the piston J, forcing the piston outwardly to the position indicated in Figure 6. which is the end of the outward stroke. As the scoop moves outwardly the tilting levers Z are rocked on their pivots a and tilt the scoop so that the final position of the scoop at the end of the outward stroke. is that indicated in Figure 1L having been carried iii-om a position in which the bottom of tli'e sco'op is substantially horizontal or tilted slightly down- \v-ard...as indicated in Figure 5, to the final position at the end of the. outward stroke. in which the bottom of the scoop is tilted upwardly in the pile of material. ()n this initial outward stroke. the scoop rotates about the scoop shaft-t) as a center. and the lineal substantially horizontal thrust imparted to the scoop is converted into an upward slicin stroke which is an important feature of t io device and facilitates digging and filling,

Motive lliiiil is'then admitted to the forward end of the cylinder l. and during that portion of the rearward stroke of the piston indicated in Figure 7. a withdrawal movement is imparted to the scoo as well as an initial lifting movement, \viich is a continuation of the withdrawal movement'combined with the lifting movement. before the raising or final liftingmovement back over the llltlClllTlE- tothe'posltion indicated in Fig-' ure Rpfor the i'lischarge of the material from the echo its the piston I starts to move rcarwardiy. the rst effect is to move the scoop shaft 0 from the outer to the inner ends ofth'e slots 1 in the lifting lcverilinks S. so that the scoo) is withdrawn substantiallyhorizontally mm the pile for a short distance. depending upon the length of the slots; This short withdrawal movement is beneficial" in loosening the scoopdm thegpilei Ihe side arm links S are then swung rearwardly about the side arm pivot pins 'l until the hollow portions Y of the said links take tipagalnst the bearing members \V at the ends of the side arms as indicated in Figure 7. The cylinder F has also tilted slightly about the trunnions G, the combined efi'ect upon the scoop being tolift it from the position indicated in Figure .6 to that indicated in Figure 7. This" initial lift is also shown in Figure 6 by the dotted portion of the scoop E. Which indicates not only the initial lift but thewithdrawal movement of the scoop. The initial withdrawal and lift is important. because a strong .li-fting force is provided to back the scoop out of the muck pile and start it in motion. There.- after sufficient force is applied to complete the lifting and discharge stroke without throwing the Scoop up too violently.

As the piston J travels rearwardly in the cylinder F from the position indicated in Figure 7, to that indicated in Figure 8, the cylinder is rotated about its trunnions G. while the side arms and connected parts rotate about the side arm shaft R. \Vhen the ,cylinder reaches the end of its discharge stroke, it is tipped rearwardly slightly be yond the horizontal, and the recoil check abuts against the stop it so that the material is jarred out of the scoop into any suitable hopper. container. conveyer or other apparatus with which the digging mechanism cooperates. The piston J has reached the end of its rearward stroke and ahuts against the hack head r of the cylinder, so that no more work is done by the piston. In this final dumping or discharge position of the cylinder and scoop and connected parts. the relationship between the pivotal parts of the cylinder and the trunnions (i. and the pivot for the side arm links provided by the scoop shaft l. is such that the toggles formed by the side arms Q and the side arm links S are opened. and the side arms and links assume the positions indicated in dotted lines in Figure H. in readiness for the forward and downward movement of the scoop. The recoil check ll throws the cylinder forwardly past the vertical and gravity carries the parts hack to the initial position indicated in Figure 5. as set forth in the said copending application of Bruce A. Middleuiiss.

I prefer to distribute motive fluid. preferahly compressed air. to the cylinder F through the trunnions (i of the cylinder. which are indicated in detail in Figures 9 and 10. The trunnions G as shown. are hollow. and hearin sleeves 1/ are provided hetween the trunnions and the trunnion caps ll. The hollow trunnions are provided with ports .1 communicating with the passages and leading to the forward and rearward ends of the cylinder F respectively. and these trunnions also communicate with passages 2 and 3 in the trunnion caps H leading to the valve chest 4 with which the supply pipe 5 of motive fluid is connected. The passage 2 in one trunnion cap communicates with said valve chest 4 through the passage 6 in the main frame and the )assage T in the 0 posite trunnion cap. The exhaust from t e valve chest communicates with the exhaust passage 8 in the main frame. leading to atmosphere. A slide valve 9 in the valve chest 4 is connected by a link Ill to a rocker arm 11 on a transverse shaft 12 provided with the hand lever 13. In Figure 9. the valve 9 is shown in position to admit motive fluid through the trunnion G leading to the back end of the cylinder. so that the piston J will he actuated on its forward stroke and the front end of the cylinder will he exhausted to atmosphere through the other trunnion. and through the passages connected with the exhaust. R. in Figure 10 the valve 9 has heen shifted to admit motive fluid to the front end of the cylinder and the rearward end of the cylinder is exhausted to atmosphere. all indicated by the arrows.

The truck 8 is advanced and retracted from the pile by means of a suitable engine ll and the main frame is swung in a horizontal plane on the truck by means of an other suitable engine 15 and in this instance,

both these engines are indicated more or less iliagrannnatically as engines of the square piston type. known as llake engines. although auy other suitahle type may he used for the same purposes. traction chain 16 is suitably anchored at its forward end by means of a stake 17, for instance. near the face of the drift in the mine. and this chain is carried rcarwardly over a sprocket Is on the driven shaft 1%) of the motor H. The chain passes under idlers 20 forming guide rollers and the rearward end of the chain is also preferably staked or otherwise l'astened between the rails I). The truck is :uL vanced or retracted along the chain 16 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the motor 14. In practice the miner will force the scoop as deep as possible into the muck pile and then turn the air into the digging cylinder F for the digging and tilling stroke. The advancing engine 1- has in the meantime reached the limit of its power to cause the scoop to penetrate the pile and the engine stops with the forces in the machine substantially in balance for the completion of the operating cycle.

Sliding rail clamps 21 hook underneath the inside flanges of the heads of the rails l) and prevent the machine from lifting olf the rails or otherwise becoming derailed. This construction in conjunction with the diagonal thrust which occurs when the digging cylinder is operated at an angle to the track. crowds these inside clamps snugly against the flanges of the rails.

in order to atford provision for swinging the main frame A horizontally on the truck. the truck is provided with a forward segmental housing 222 in which hearing rollers 23 are mounted and the truck is also provided with a series of rearward turrets 24 comprising vertical rollers 25 and horizontal rollers 26. The main frame A bears on the forward bearing rollers 23 and is also provided with a guide or swinging segment 27 which bears on the vertical bearing rollers 2:": of the turrets. The swinging segment 27 is also guided by the horizontal rollers 26 of the turrets. Plates 28 bolted to the truck. extend over the swinging segment 27 and hold it and the main frame A against vertical movement at the rearward end. The main frame A is provided with a transverse filler piece 29 and a plate 30 riveted to the frame at the forward end. and this plate 30 extends underneath the flange 31 of the segmental housing 22 and holds down the forward end of the main frame A. A cable 32 is connected at one end to an eye bolt 33 fastened to one side of the forward end of the main frame A. as indicated in Figure 12 and this cable passes down through a guide 34. is then turned horizontally through an aperture 35 in a downwardly projecting portion of said guide. passes over a guide roller 36 ill it 'i on the trurh and it her erveral turns around the. drum 37 of the swinging motor 15, is guided oier a. roller Ill-l on the truck adjai-ent the drum. then over another roller l? on the truek adiarent the roller 36 and through the guide it) to the eye. bolt ll at the opposite side of the main frame from the eye 'iadt Eli). i'1iing to the direction of rotation of the drum 3? the main frame will be swung to the right or the left. on the forward guide rollers :32? and the turrets. Such arrangement of the eahle and drum permits the mat-hine to he narrow while affording a simple and romp-art rahle mechanism for o iiiging the main frame on the truck.

The distrihution ol' motive fluid to the two motors it and I3 is rontrolled by a single handle -12 pinned to the jointed valve Shaft 11. whit-b extends through the motor valve lns'ts it and if. lly IUt'llllkfl' the handle 42 and valve sha ft 43. the slide valve 46 in the host "i-l wiil he artuated through the agenry -t' the linger ii. The soeltet 48 of the handle 42 affords sutlieient. rlearanre for the rod of the valve shaft 425 to also permit. the 1 IlIltllt 42 to he rorlted in the axial plane f the valve shai t about the end 49 of :he downwardly extending handle projeriion it? as a pivot. so that said shaft 43 oill be moved longitudinally for aetnatng the slide valve .31 in the valve rhest 45.

i iliiligfll the ageney of the finger The ooded end it! of the progertion 50 of the handle 4; is preferably guided by a plate snitalilv serured to the frame of the molol l i.

Motive iluid is supplied to both motors a well as to the i'ylinder A of the lllilt'lllnl through the main supply pipe 51 ronnertinn' with the supply pipe leading! to the cylinder A and suitable ronnertions are made out said pipe 54 to the valve rhests H and The motors ii and are shown diagramniatieally in Figure 4 as ronventional quare piston motors of the Dalie type. and need not he drsrrihed in detail. exeept to itllit'ilil the prinripal parts. The vylinder i-"a'vti' or head 5.? of the motor 14 is provii-led with the inlet passage as. and the ex lojoist p revs T. The cylinder on is provided with the outer frame piston 59 and the inner piston ti l of the usual ronstruelion. ret'iprtu'ating Within the. outer piston. "l'he r-rank shaft. '11 is ronneeted to the inner piston in by the rrank pin 62 and rotation is imparted to the [rank shaft. hy the move ments of the outer and inner pistons. The rrank shaft is formed with a worm 63 meshing with a wheel (34 on the motor shaft it) orrying the spror'ltet 18 over whieh the trartion r-hain passes.

The eyiinder head or rover (iii of the motor [5 is provided with the inlet. passages 67 and exhau t ports 35 and otherwise the icon int-lion oi tho is substantially motor in similar to that of the motor [4 and drives the drum 37 for the swinging cable 32. Due to the worm and wheel. included in the egearing of the advanring cylinder, the gearing is non-reversible and self lot-king and automatically locks the machine against skidding bat-k away from the pile.

In the operation of the. machine. let it he assumed that the trattion (-hain It) has been secured in position. and it is desired to advanre the truck along; the track to digging position. The handle 42 will be rorked in order to rork the valve shaft 43 aliout its axis. for adinitting motive fluid to the advaneingr motor 14. for oausing said motor to rotate the sprorket lit in a. dirertion to move the truck forwardly along: the rails. tfflle starting the digging operations, it. may be desirable to swing the main frame on the trurk to one side or the other to the most advantageous position for digging and for this purpose. the handle 4; is rorked about the pivot 49 in a dirertion to move the valve shaft ill longitudinally \vhirh will admit motive fluid to the motor is) and rause said motor to drive the drum 3? and wind the (able 3:2. in the proper dirertion to swine the main frame on the forvard guide rollers 23 and the vertiral turret rollers 2.3 to the position desired. \Yith the digging mei'hanisni in the position indirated in Figure l. the handle ii) is then manipulated to admit motive fluid to the rearward end of the ryiinder whirh actuates the digging: mechanism and snoop through the rye-1e hereinhefore deseribed. The stamp is first advalu-ed or i-rowded into the muok pile from the position shown in Figure l to that illllltillt'tl in Figure (3 and at the same time. the sroop is slightly tilted by means of the tilting levers and tilting lever links. The lever 13 is then reversed to admit motive fluid to the forward end of the ('yiinder and exhaust the rearward end. so that the initial witlnlrawal movement is imparted to the swoop. roinliined with an initial lift and the continued rearward movement of the piston l in the rylinder raises and swings the swoop to disrharije position, as indirated in Figure, B. after whieli the digging nu-ehanism returns by gravity to the initial position inditated in Figure 1 ready for the next eyrle.

l elaim:

l. A loading machine romprising a frame. a Seoop. and vertieally swinging means for rousing the scoop to be moved through the following: ('yrle of operations: first. a forward lineal substantially horizontal thrust ronverted into an upward sliring movement by tilting, the sroop. than an initial \vitlr drawal and lift of the sroop followed by a t'tiiitiTlltuliS lift and swine of the seoop bark over the mar-hine to disi'hurge position, and finally a downward and forward movement lOO ill]

of the stoop to initial position at the front of the frame for the heginning' of the next suereediug e -le.

L. loading mat-lune. .eomprisin a frame. a sroop. and remit-ally swinging means for musing the stoop to he moved through the following ovrle of operations: tirst. thrusting the seoop lineallv toruard suhstantiallv horizontally and I-onverting the said lineal thrust into an upward sliein movement of the sump ll V tilting: the sump. then initially \vitlnl|'a\vin; and litting the seoop and rontiuuing to lift and swing the seoop hark over the iuaehiue to diseharge position. and permitting the seoop and operatin; merhanism to fall lly gravity to the front of the maehine for the Start ol' the next eyele.

3. loading maehine eomprisin; a frame. a reeiproeating motor mounted to s\vin; \'tltl('tlll on the frame. a seoop eonnerted to a reeiprorating part of said motor. side arms pivoted to the frame and side arm links eonneeting the side arms with the seoop. and tilting levers eonneeted to the seoop. \vhereh) the seoop is tilted as it is thrust forward by the motor.

l. loading maehine eomprising a frame, a rw-iproeatin; motor mounted to swin; \'ertie:tll on the frame. a seoop eonneeted to a reeipioeating part of the motor. side arms pivoted to the frame andside arm links eonnerting the side arms with the seoop tilting lever links pivoted to a sta tionar v part of the motor and tilting: levers eouneetiug the tilting lever links with the seoop. wherein the seoop is tilted as it is thrust forward h) the motor.

:3. In a loading marhine. the eomhination of a frame. a motor. hollow trunnions tor said motor mounted in said frame. trunnion eaps over the trunnions eontainin; mo tive fluid passages and means for distrihutin; motive fluid to said motor through the trunnionsand trunnion caps.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speeitieation.

JOHN C. BRACKETT. 

